Guglielmo Wine sold in Japan.
Day Nine
Kaida-Kogen, Yabuhara, Narai, Karuizawa
(6.8 miles)
After Yabuhara, we climbed to Torii Toge (3,927 feet), which
marks one of four protective sites surrounding Mt. Ontake.
A train ride took us to the Tsuruya ryokan in Karuizawa for
our last night on the road.
We celebrated another glorious day walk with a
12-course victory banquet. The extravaganza included
FUGU, aka Pufferfish (or blowfish), a Japanese delicacy
famously known for its potential to cause paralysis or death
if not fastidiously fileted. After some debate about eating the
fugu, one of us opted out. Eating around what she thought
was the fugu on her plate, she declared, “Not eating it!”
“But you just did,” Giorgio said. The thing she’d avoided
eating was only a simple garnish. Oh, well, the fugu
was delicious.
Day 10
Karuizawa, Tokyo (10 miles)
After a hearty breakfast, we set out for Usui Toge. After
passing stones carved with poetry and secluded villas, we
climbed through a beautiful maple forest to Usui (3,871
feet). From there, the view was another active volcano,
Mt. Asama, and the Kanto Plain that surrounds Tokyo.
Then a bullet train sped us back to Tokyo and civilization.
Traveling on foot, meeting people one-on-one, height-
ens one’s appreciation for every individual life. Without
exception, the people we met in Japan were polite, friendly
and generous.
“What a privilege it was to learn about Japan. Since
our trip, I am trying to practice what I experienced—
radical generosity every day in how I greet, meet and
Ann Tarlton
treat people.”
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
april/may 2019
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